The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1887-04-30
I,ErrER PROM TENNEssEE.
Ross Landing or Chattanooga, as it Is
Now Called.

The CITY OF COdllduOOSd i1aitAlAtOA cOuhtSt AcA-
nessee is situated OIL the south bank of the Tennes
see river above the great chain of the Cumberland
Mountains, and Immediately above and in full view
of the grand old Lookout Mountains. made histor-
torica by the battles fought upon its sides and in its
vicinity during the late war between the States.
There are many persons still living who remember
the locality known as Ross Ferry, Ross Landing.
and Ross Warehouse that perpetuated the name OF
John Ross the Indian chief whose residence is still
standing FIVE miles distant, Just over the Georgia
State line and has been occupied for the last fifty
wears by Thomas G. Mcfarland. Esq. In 1896 it was
made military post by the United States and sew
eral regiments of troops stationed there on the
removal of the Indians In 1897 postofice was es-
tablished there by the name of Ross Landing The
place had now become thriving little village and
they must have new name They would no lon
ger submit to mere landing, so town meeting
was called to meet in the school-house. Various
names were proposed and rejected At last mem
Der arose and proposed Chattanooga. 1t was the
name of valley and creek in the neighborhood,
and Is said to be the original name of Lookout
Mountain. The town was chartered in 1871, ald
new charter was obtained ten years later, giving it
city Misunderstanding 1t into wards with police
Aers The city continued 10 increase in popula-
ton and wealth until the breaking out Of the war
and at its close the place complete wreck, the
inhabitants gone buildings destroyed, and nothing
left but the natural of the place. This was
Old Chattanooga Tne close of the war LEFT Chatta-
nooga nothing more than d military post. What The
city is at present it has beeoms since 1855 Its pop
ulation in 1860 was $780, in 1877 and in 1880
l2,S92 1t is now about 2s000.
POINTS OF INTEREST.
Strangers arriving in Chattanooga naturally want
to know something about the points of interest
made sacred in the eyes of many by association
with the terrible battles fought on its sides in 1867
1t would be a vain task to undertake in this short
letter anything like complete description of Look
out Mountain, standing like some giant sentinel
guarding this gateway of the South. 1t seems SO
near every line and of rock distinctly visible
in the transparent mountain air, that you can
scarcely credit the answer invariably given to your
inqury-fve miles to the point; and yet if you at
tempt to ascend did. on foot, you will be ready
to say, long before you reach the top the half has
not been told. Once upon the summit, however,
you feel amply repaid for all the trouble or effort
incurred in the ascent At its feet lies the busy city
of Chattanooga the smoke of her factories and the
distant hum of her wheels forming charming con-
trast with the repose of the mountain air and val
ieys around her. The Tennessee river, fed by its
watershed of twenty thousand square miles, encir-
Giles Chattanooga with silver band, giving four
miles of river front, with no point more than one
mile from the centre of the CITY, Moccasin Bend,
with its almost perfect outline of human foot pre-
sents in fruit and garden. grain and grass pleas
ing picture of rural life. Turning your gaze from
the valley, you range upon range of mountains,
stretching away into Alabama on the south and with
Georgia and North Carolina on the east, the whole
picture presenting combination OF mountain
scenery and cultivated valley, perhaps unequaled
~ -. \ at,a, ,,,fla lie
tant may be seen the famous Sunset Rock For
erai evenings the writer has watched the sun sink
behind distant mountains amid ever-changing but
ever grand and beautiful surroundings. At times
the white clouds gathered as attendant courtiers on
the king of day, and as his glory lighted up their
leecy folds it seemed fitting portal for the land
which knows no light and needs no sun. In the
presence of such a vision the heart, even of the
thoughtless and the gay, is hushed into momentary
reverence and worship. 1 would say, If you ever
visit this place. if possible, visit Lula Lake and
Falls. While the lake itself may disappoint you |
am the falls will not and will repay the trouble
of the journey. The mountain stream pouring
from the lake falls perpendicular distance of one
hundred and ten feet and is dashed into spray upon
the solid rocks in which these ages of friction have
scarcely left a tracs in the gorge below the falls.
The laurel, rhododendron and azalias during the
month of May literally pack every creyice with
beauty and fill the air with fragrance.
In ride of two hours from the centre Of the city
you can, even in midsummer, secure change Of
temperature of from three to six degrees, and
breathe the tonic of most delightful mountain air.
Here was told, epidemics of all kinds un-
known aud their presence almost an impossibility.
Missionary Ridge claims its name from the Mora
Wan mission among the Cherokees once located
near its eastern Slope and still marked by the old
Indian burying- ground, in the center of which
stands monument erected to DR.. Samuel Worces-
ter the first secretary of the American Board
of Missions He died here while oil visit to the
mission in 1921 The ridge has become historic
ground since the battle of November 25 1868 Along
its crest the old line of breastworks in which Gen.
Bragg entrenched his forces still remains aforcible
reminder of the cruel strife which survives only in
sad memories and regrets that it should have been,
On both sides of this ridge men from North and
South now live together as kind peighbors as
Christian gentlemen and speaial friends. One pecH
liarity of this point worthy of special mention is lis
dry and bracing atmosphere. Being above the fog
of the valley and below the clouds of the mountain
dew rarely falls upon its summit. have been told
that during nine months of the year those who live
there enjoy a climate which makes existence a
luxury.
NATIONAL CEMETERY.
On mound or series of mounds rising out of the
plain about half way between Chattanooga and the
ridge is the National Cemetery, in which nearly
$1,000 OF the Union soldiers Sleep under the of
the government they died to perpetuate The whole
tract sixty acres enclosed by substantial stone
wall while a green hedge. planted Just within and
a few feet distant, relieves the rugged character
of the masonry and suggests not the city but the
garden of the dead. The magnificent road
lately made to the cemetery by the govern
ment, together with the charming drives through
the grounds. the quiet beauty of the spot itself.
and the historical association connected with it.
all tend to make a visit to this spot one OF the
most enjoyable eastswhich even Chattanooga, with
all her wealth of scenery, can furnish. The Ten
nessee river, sweeping around the base of the
mountain, leaves space on which to build even
an ordinary roadway. and when the Nashville and
Chattanooga Railway was built it was necessary to
cut its way out OF the almost perpendicular side o
the mountain.
LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN CAVE.
Just on the line of this railroad and about two
miles from the city. is the mouth of Lookout Cave.
On entering, you are ushered into room, perhaps
20 feet high and from 20 10 50 feet wide From this
room you pursue your way with varied experiences,
At one time the cave expands into room large
enough to hold goodly Company, and at another
you are forced to travel through narrow passage
and in stopping posture In one place the floor is
perfectly smooth and dry: in another you Chamber
over huge boulders creep along the edge of some
crevice whose depth is impenetrable by any ray of
light you can throw into it, Within the cave there
is creek with fall of water forty feet higher than
the great Niagara
THE BATTLE FIELDS.
Within the limits of the city rises Cameron Hill,
nearly three hundred feet above the river from the
top of which you viii ge: bird's-eye view of the
city and surrounding valley. East, and about one
mile from the top of Cameron HILL may be seer the
ruins of old Fort Wood, on which General Grant
stood while directing his forces against those of the
enemy during the battle OF Missionary Ridge. Bald
Knob. distant one mile east from Fort Wood, marks
the line where the Union forces halted in the adj
vance made on the 2sd Of November and It WAS
from this point that Changers three cannon, fired In
quick succession called them to the final charge
the evening of the 18th. The knob remains un-
changed by human hands, and you can easily recog-
nze it by the Characteristic appearance to which it
doubtless owes its name It is about six miles from
Chattanooga to the nearest point on the chicka-
manga battle field. The line of battle was however
ten miles long and was fought over such an extent
of territory that to the most important points Of
the battle you must spend whole day aud travel at
least thirty miles; and as it was fought without